The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-03
A ship OF 40.
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyrighted by Houghton Mifiin & Co., and
published bv sr-.noemen. with them.
CHAPTER vi.


In the passage. Confused and embar-
raised, Renshaw remained standing at the
door that had closed upon Rosey as her
father entered the cabin. Providence,
which always fostered Mr.. Motifs char
acteristic misconception, left that perspi-
cacious parent but one Interpretation OF
the situation. Rosey had evidently just
informed Mr.. Renshaw that she loved
anotheri
~ was just saying goodby' to Miss
Mott" said Renshaw, hastily regaining
his composure with an effort, az am
going to Sacramento TO night, and will not
return. p
'.In course, in course" interrupted
Mott, soothingly; "that's wot you say
now, and that's what you allow to do.
That's wot they allus do"
~ mean" said Renshaw, reddening at
what he conceived to be an allusion to the
Ascending propensities of Motifs previous
tenants, al mean that you shall keep the
advance to cover any loss you might suffer
through my giving up the rooms"
"Certingly," said Mott, laying his hand
with large sympathy on Renshaw's
shoulder; "but We'll drop that just now.
We won't swap HOSES in the middle OF
the river. Well square mp accounts in
your room," he added, raising his voice
that Rosey might Overhear him, after a
preliminary wink at the young man.
ayes, sir, we'll just square up and set
tie in there Come along, Mr.. Renshaw. /"
Pushing him with paternal gentleness
from the cabin, with his hand still upon
his shoulder, he followed him into the pas
sage. Half annoyed at his familiarity, yet
not altogether displeased by this illus
tration of Rosey's belief of his preference,
Renshaw wonderingly accompanied him.
Mott closed the door, and pushing the
young man into a chair, deliberately
seated himself at the table opposite. Its
Just as we'll that Rosey reckons that lou
and me is settlin' our accounts" he be-
gan, cunningly, land mebbe it's just ez
well ez she should reckon you're goin'
away"
"But am going, J." interrupted Renshaw,
inpatient. ~ leave tonight"
"Surely, surely" said Mott, gently,
''that's wot you kalkilate to do; that's
Just nat'ral in young Teller. That's
about what reckon I'd hev done to her
mother ii anythin' like this he'd ever
cropped up, which it didn't. Not but
what Almiry Jane had young fellers
enough around her, but, 'cept ole Judge
Peter, ez was famed in the war of 1879,
there amt no similarity ez kin see" he
added, musingly.
II am afraid can't see any similarity
either, Mr.. Mott" said Renshaw, strug-
Cling between a dawning sense of some
impending absurdity and his growing pas
sion for Rosey. "For Heavens sake
speak out IL you've got anything to say"
Mr.. Mott leaned forward, and placed
his large hand on the young mans
shoulder "That's what sed to myself
when I seed how things were pintin'.
Speak out, seq I, 'Abner! Speak out II
you've got anything to say. You kin
trust this yer Mr.. Renshaw. He amt
the kind Of man to creep into the bosom
Of mans ship for purposes of his own.
He amt man that would hunt round
until he discovered poor mans treasure,
and then try to rob- -
''Stop!" said Renshaw, with set face
and darkening eyes. "What treasurer
what man are you speaking OPP
"Why Rosey and Mr.. Ferrers," re-
turned Mott, simply.
Renshaw sank into his seat again. But
the expression of relief which here passed
swiftly over his face gave way to one OF
uneasy interest as Mott went on.
"P'r'aps it's little high falutin' talkin'
Of Rosey ez treasure. But, considerin,
Mr. Renshaw, ez she's the only prop'ty
I've kept by me for seventeen years ez hez
paid interest and increased in valooe, it
amt sayin too much to call her so. And
ez Ferrers knows this, he oughter been
content with gougin' me in that horsehair
spec, without goin' for Rosey. P'r'aps
yer surprised at hearing me speak O. my
own flesh and blood ez if was talkin'
boss trade, but you and me is business
men, Mr.. Renshaw, and we discusses ez
such. We amt goin' to slosh round and
slop over in po'try and sentiment" con-
tinued Mott, with tremulous voice, and
hand that slightly shook on Renshaw's
shoulder. 1--WE amt goin' to git up and
sing, Thou'st larned to love another
thou'st broken every VOW we've parted
from each other and my bozom's lonely
now oh is it well to sever such hearts as
ourn for ever kin forget thee never fare
well farewell farewell Ye never hap
pend to hear Jim Baker sing that at the
moosic hall on Dupont street, Mr.. Rem
shaw" continued Mr.. Mott, enthusiast
tically, when he had recovered from that
complete absence Of punctuation which
alone suggested verse to his intellect.
HE sorter struck water down here, in
dicating his heart, 'every time"
"But what has Miss Mott to do with NJ.
de Ferrieres'" asked Renshaw, with q
faint smile.
Mr.. Mott regarded him with dumb,
round, astOnished eyes. Haunt she told
yer?''
Certainly not"
"And she didn't let on anythin' about